Hawaiian investigators have identified the boyfriend of a former Tustin woman as a suspect in her death, more than a month after her body was found in the water off Kalapana.

Authorities on Wednesday asked the public's help in locating Boaz David Johnson, 22, in connection with the death of Brittany Jane Royal, 25, believed to have died as a result of strangulation.

Police were alerted shortly before 6:30 a.m. on May 28 when Royal's body was spotted in a fishing line from a boat. Family members say Royal was about 10 weeks pregnant with the couple's child.

Johnson reportedly has been missing since speaking to his family on May 27. He and Royal had been living together in a tent in Hawaii's Puna District with plans to buy land and build a house in Kalapana, said Julie Royal, Brittany's mother.

"I'm a little neutral," Julie Royal said of the news that Johnson is considered a suspect. "I don't know what evidence they have. So I'm kind of taking it with a grain of salt.

"I'm glad to know the investigation is moving forward."

Johnson's parents have told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald he may have also been the victim of violence and has been unfairly portrayed as a suspect.

"He was a nice kid," Ted Royal, Brittany's father, told the Associated Press. "Part of me really hopes he didn't do it. But if he did do it — if they find him — they may never find him ... then he'll have to answer."

Family members said that since completing her high-school GED at 17, Brittany had been living away from home, including stops in Spokane, Wash., St. Thomas and Florida. She also traveled internationally to places including Australia and Thailand. Brittany took an interest in organic farming and would sometimes live on organic farms in exchange for helping out the owners.

Julie Royal used to tell stories to her friends about her daughter's travels.

"People always tell me the same thing: 'I wish I would've done that,'" she said. "Brittany did what a lot of people don't have the guts to do."

"Smart," "trusting" and "someone who always tried to see the good in people," were other ways Royal described her daughter, who was also passionate about yoga, guitar, Eastern religion and philosophy and enjoyed attending live music shows.

After all her travels, Brittany planned on settling down in Hawaii, with plans to start a yoga studio and devote herself to organic farming.

Her body has been cremated, and a funeral will be held July 27 at Unity Church of Tustin. Her ashes will be scattered at sea.

Until then, the family continues to cope with the death of their sister and daughter, hoping the investigation might eventually reveal what happened to Brittany and who was responsible.

"I don't think I've even hit grief at this point," her mom said. "I'm just trying to figure out what happened."

Brittany-Jane Royal, 25, had recently moved to Hawaii. PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACHARY ROYAL
Brittany-Jane Royal, 25, had recently moved to Hawaii. PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACHARY ROYAL
Police are searching for a Boaz D. Johnson, 22, of Petersburg, Alaska in connection with the death of Brittany-Jane Royal, 25. Johnson was reported missing in late May and may have been camping with Royal before she was strangled to death, the Hawaii Police Department stated. COURTESY THE HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
Brittany-Jane Royal, 25, center, with her brothers, Zachary and Schuyler. PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACHARY ROYAL
Brittany Jane Royal, 25, with her brothers, Schuyler and Zachary. PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACHARY ROYAL

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